14 April 2012

Caturday IV

Hi all!  I am still enthused about Caturday, even if no one has joined me yet *le sigh*.  Nevermind, I will still include Mr Linky should you want to participate!

This week's photos: The Kitten is quite fond of sleeping on my lovely clean cloths.  Granted, I leave them in a heap on the couch invitingly, but even so, I present Exhibit A and Exhibit B.
I also enjoy taking pictures of A while he is sleeping, but I will spare you this time.
Do you know what the internet has taught me?  It's that people love sleeping cats.  Do you know how I know this?  I posted the following to Pinterest a while back and got almost 800 repins.  I really don't care about getting repins, but this one went absolutely gangbusters.  I know what the people want ;)

So, if you have a post about your kitty you would like to share, please fill out the form below and link back here to join the party!   Otherwise, it will be a party of one.  

11 April 2012

WIP: oh baby

Most notable progress this week is on the ripple baby set.  Look at that sweet cardigan!  Just need to wait for the cute buttons to arrive and I can finish it off.  I've also started the matching baby blanket.  I really like the effect that crocheting in the back loop gives. 
Look at those WIPs, so artfully arranged.
Only limited work on the blissful flowers shawl this week (sorry Ange!).  This is my commute project, and due to the Easter break I haven't been commuting.  So, that's why I haven't done a lot.  But, I found a few mistakes in the pattern!!  I feel like a crochet wizard!  The chart is clear though so I've not been hampered too severely.  Still enjoying this, and looking forward to getting it on the blocker.  I am currently on motif 108 of 144 (75%!).
Hastily picture taken on the train for your enjoyment.

So I finished reading (or, listening to someone else read to me) the Hunger Games and then I saw the movie.

I didn't mind the book, but it certainly wasn't brilliant and it's not one I see myself reading again.  **Might be Spoilers here** A couple of bits got me, like when they changed the rules I was like wwhhhhaaaaat?  And just because you can decorate cakes Peeta, does not a master camoflager make, imho.  PFFT!

The movie was ok as well, just the usual teenage rubbish.  I quite liked everything that happened before they got to the arena, the games themselves felt rushed.  And Woody Harrelson was good, but when is he not?

Anyway, if you like the idea of teens fighting it out to the death, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE DO YOURSELF A FAVOUR AND SEE BATTLE ROYALE!

I couldnt decide what picture to include, but here are a bunch

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Via. Click to see more hilarious Hunger Games comics

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WIP Wednesday (Tami's Amis)
WIP Wednesday (Ambassador Crochet)
Yarn Along (Small Things)
Keep Calm and Craft On {Crafting on} (Frontier Dreams)

07 April 2012

Caturday III


Logo is still a work in progress XD


Hi all, it's that time of the week - Caturday!!  The day I have set aside to bask in the glory that is The Kitten.

For anyone new to Caturday, here's the sitch:  every Caturday (Saturday) I will show off a picture(s) of The Kitten, and maybe some other random kitty-cat stuff I encounter (Submissions most welcome in this respect).  Then I will invite you to show off your furbaby by adding your link to a recent post from your blog!  It would be great if you post on Saturdays too, but I'm not going to get my knickers in a bunch if you link to something else. 

Today's picture: The uber close up.  Do you stick your camera in your kitty's face in an effort to get a special shot? I do it all the time, with some gorgeous results, even if I do say so myself!

Cuteness attacks you from all angles!
Today's topic:  a Lolcat for every occasion. 

If you're cool like me (which I'm sure you are because look at you, checking out my awesome blog!) then you love lolcats.  One of my favourite things is to email a friend or colleague a lolcat when a certain emotion is expressed or event occurs.  For example, a friend of mine recently had some heart trouble.  All good now, but when she came back to work I sent her this:

via (This and this one are also appropriate)
If I'm feeling down or not in a good mode, I may send one of these:
Via here and here
It's your birthday?  Oh, have a lolcat:
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 And of course, for Caturday itself:
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It's simple really, just search google images for 'lolcat' and your keyword (ie, 'angry', 'sad', 'heart attack').  Happy lolling!

Please share your kitty related post by completing the details required by Mr Linky below.  Please link back here so everyone can share in kitty goodness!

06 April 2012

FO: Cowlishness

So, I wasn't going to buy myself any more yarn this year.  I have enough stashed that, should the inevitable zombie apocalypse happen, I will have enough to keep me hooking for at least two years - and that's really how any crocheter should be measuring their stash.  But I digress.  Last week, I was feeling down and stressed and PMSing big time.  Obviously, some new pretty yarn was the only medicine.  So bought myself a couple of skeins of Lincraft Prism:

ooohhhh aaahhhhhh
Inspired by this, I wanted something quick and mindless for a bit of instant gratification.  And, wah lah, a lovely squishy cowl that adds instant colour and warmth.
I had nothing better to do in the 30c heat than model my new woollen cowl.
Want to make one?  Just get some squishy 10ply yarn with long colour repeats, start with around 57 foundation single crochet (fsc), to get to your desired length and then dc back and forth for your desired width.  I finished with a row of sc and then sc both ends together, with a twist to form a moebius.  Easy peasy.

As an aside, I googled 'cowlishness' and look what I found!  Is't it just lovely?  Knitted, but sometimes that can't be helped :D  I don't think I could pull it off though.
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Linking up with Tami's Amis FO Fridays, and Fiber Arts Fridays at Wisdom Begins in Wonder.

***CATURDAY PLUG***
I'm trying to start a *thing*.  I don't really know the rules around these things, but because I love The Kitten so much, I always want to share her awesomeness with those around me!  So, every Saturday will be Caturday at My Grandmotherly Ways.  Every Caturday I will post a picture of The Kitten, and maybe some other feline related stuff.  I will add a widget which will allow you to link up with me, so you too may participate in Caturday and show us your furbabies!! Hope to see you back here on Sat.... er... Caturday!!

04 April 2012

WIP: Actual progress and jumping on the bandwagon.

Hello Wednesday!  I got a lot of great comments on my post last week, pursuant to which I exposed myself and my list of shameful list of WIPs.  Very happy that I could make some of you feel better, by either drawfing or drawing comparitively close to your amount of WIPs (I'm looking at you Andria, HillyT, Laura, Jocelyn and heather). 

I was also very enthused on the love for my TARDIS, so I will hopefully pick that one back up soon!!

And from now on, I will show you only actual progress made during the week. 

This week has been a crochet-a-thon.  I had a three hour train round trip on Sunday, perfect hooking conditions to work on my Blissful Flowers Shawl.  I've pinned out a section of it here so you can see the pattern.  It's natural state is bunched up, as per the picture to the right.  This will be rectified in blocking I'm sure.  

The best thing about this shawl is that the rows get shorter instead of longer.  All the shawls I've made thus far get bigger as you go, so you don't feel the progress.  This one is going to get super fun as the rows ger shorter!  I am currently on motif 55 of 144 (~40%!!).
I am now into what I call the 'skeleton' of the skein to the left.  I have peeled away its skin.

Ok, this next one is a newbie, but I'm not counting it as new because what I wanted was a set for a baby girl, and it became clear this one which I shared last week was going to be too big, and I am just not in the mood to faff about getting it the right size, ok?  Jeez get off my back! 

So instead I've selected this pattern for a baby set.  There are a lot of pretty versions out there, though mainly just the cardi, but I am making the bonnet and booties too.  Then the fun part - I get to satisfy my urge to make a ripple blanket by making a ripple baby blankie to match!  It's slower going than I would usually like, I believe due to the 4 ply yarn, the 3mm hook and crocheting into the back loop, which I dont engage in very often. Purty though!!

Progress shot taken in terrible lighting to the left, beautiful daylight photo of my magnificent stitching to the right.
Sooo.. thats the crochet.  Now I need to confess that I've jumped onto the bandwagon... the Hunger Games bandwagon.  (Party because Gingerhaze makes great comics about it and I wanted to be in on the joke.)  I haven't seen the movie yet, but I just haven't been able to avoid the hype, so I started the first audiobook this morning.  It's interesting enough, but it annoys me that there is so much hype when there is existing, very wonderful, stories about this same premise out there (Battle Royal?  The Long Walk?).

So, linking up with WIP Wednesday at Tami's Amis, Ambassador Crochet, Yarn Along with Ginny and Frontier Dreams.

***CATURDAY PLUG***
I'm trying to start a *thing*.  I don't really know the rules around these things, but because I love The Kitten so much, I always want to share her awesomeness with those around me!  So, every Saturday will be Caturday at My Grandmotherly Ways.  Every Caturday I will post a picture of The Kitten, and maybe some other feline related stuff.  I will add a widget which will allow you to link up with me, so you too may participate in Caturday and show us your furbabies!! Hope to see you back here on Sat.... er... Caturday!!

03 April 2012

Oh stop it you!!



Aw shucks, Lisa from Tea and Craft gave me an award!  Thank youuuuuu!  I love Lisa's blog, and it's so so so lovely to think she likes me too ^_^  I've never met Lisa, but I feel we are kindred spirits (just pop over to her blog and read her 'About Me'.  Grandmotherly much?? :D)

This award also comes with the following *rules* :

  • Thank the person who gave you this award. That’s common courtesy
  • Include a link to their blog. That’s also common courtesy — if you can figure out how to do it
  • Next, select 15 blogs/bloggers that you’ve recently discovered or follow regularly. ( I would add, pick blogs or bloggers that are excellent!)
  • Nominate those 15 bloggers for the Versatile Blogger Award 
  • Finally, tell the person who nominated you 7 things about yourself 
Seven things about myself, oh lordy I really don't want to bore you to tears so I'll do my best to keep it short.
  1. I LURVE Crochet (duh).  It's a bit of an obsession.  I have mini-panic attacks about not being able to do all the crochet I want.  What? I've only got ONE lifetime to do all these projects?? Sweet Jesus!
  2. I used to hate cats.  I don't even know the reason why.  I begged and begged my parents for a dog for the longest time.  Now I'm the totaly opposite, and couldn't imagine life without The Kitten.  *Shameless Plug:  see the bottom of this post for details about how you can participate in Caturday!!*
  3. This is what a gratuitous photo looks like.
  4. I swear a lot.  If you hang around me too long, you will start dropping a lot more F-bombs than you ever have in your life.  It's very contagious.
  5. I don't have my driver's licence.  I'm 28 years old.  Most people find this fact abhorrent. 
  6. I don't approve of marriage and/or weddings.  I find the whole topic unsavoury and out of date.  Everything from engagements, to the ceremony to stupid fluffy dresses.  Ugh.  I will never get married.
  7. I got my love of crafting from my mum (didn't we all?).  She used to make everything from our clothes, porcelin dolls and wedding cakes.  But I learned to crochet, and am now teaching her :D
  8. Speaking of teaching crochet, I have two "students", whom I refer to as my Crochet Biatches (R and Ang).  They are my work colleagues, who I encouraged to pick up the hook about 11 months ago.  We now have regular crochet meetings during our lunch breaks, and it tickles me pink to have wonderful friends to be able to chat with about granny squares, trebling, scarves and shawls!  I picked up the hook not knowing anyone else who engaged in the craft, and it's so so important to have people around you to chat with, and for that I am very grateful to have my Crochet Biatch Club.
And now, the 15 blogs I am passing this award on to, in no particular order:
Now, go get yourself a cup of tea and a biscuit, put your feet up and hopefully find yourself a new favourite blog (or two, or three) to read!!

***CATURDAY***
I'm trying to start a *thing*.  I don't really know the rules around these things, but because I love The Kitten so much, I always want to share her awesomeness with those around me!  So, every Saturday will be Caturday at My Grandmotherly Ways.  Every Caturday I will post a picture of The Kitten, and maybe some other feline related stuff.  I will add a widget which will allow you to link up with me, so you too may participate in Caturday and show us your furbabies!! Hope to see you back here on Sat.... er... Caturday!!

31 March 2012

Caturday II

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I had enough interest in my inaugural Caturday post last week to encourage me to add a Mr Linky!

The plan is simple, every Caturday (Saturday) I will show off a picture of The Kitten, and maybe some other random felis catus stuff I encounter (Suggestions most welcome in this respect).  Then I will invite you to show off your furbaby by adding a link to a recent post!  It would be great if you post on Saturdays too, but I'm not going to get my knickers in a bunch if you link to something else. 

Today's photo(s):  The Kitten is lounging around in the sun on a mat in my bedroom.  The Kitten loves mats.  She hates tiles.  She will either sit on the edge of the carpet, or trot briskly to the bathroom mat where she will proceed to roll around, look at you upside down and stretch.  She will also grab the mat with her claws and move it around so its a veritable shmozzle when next I enter the room of bathing.  
The Kitten at her best.
Today's topic:  puking. 

The Kitten does her fair share of puking.  One of her favourite places to puke is one of these aforementioned mats (there see, my ramblings had a reason!).  I would love one day to make this lovely needlework pattern on a cushion. 
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Bonus: fortuitously, one of this week's cat vs humans comics was on topic!
 
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Is your kittty a puker? 

Please add your kitty related link below!